Comments on: The 37 And A 1/2 Hours Sham http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: That’s the last time I complain about our ALP… « What’s in my head, and sometimes bounces out. http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-14037 That’s the last time I complain about our ALP… « What’s in my head, and sometimes bounces out. Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:59:53 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-14037 [...] I complain about our ALP… Posted on January 11, 2009 by Jean-Louis Bontront I read a very interesting post on an Australian’s educational blog about what their school district is doing about [...] [...] I complain about our ALP… Posted on January 11, 2009 by Jean-Louis Bontront I read a very interesting post on an Australian’s educational blog about what their school district is doing about [...]

]]> By: Jean-Louis Bontront http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-14036 Jean-Louis Bontront Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:54:04 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-14036 Thanks for this article. I've never been that interested in what other school systems do in terms of encouraging their teachers to do meaningful professional development. You are being forced by a system that is so unfair! It de-emphasizes so many other _very_valuable avenues of professional development. Although I've been teaching for many years now (18, but don't tell anyone!), I've just started my own on-line PLN. A colleague turned me on to Twitter and starting my own blog. What I have learned in the past couple of months has got me thinking "why didn't I do this earlier???". BTW, I've added your blog to my blogroll. You'll be playing a roll in my own professional development in the future! Thanks! Thanks for this article.
I’ve never been that interested in what other school systems do in terms of encouraging their teachers to do meaningful professional development.
You are being forced by a system that is so unfair! It de-emphasizes so many other _very_valuable avenues of professional development.

Although I’ve been teaching for many years now (18, but don’t tell anyone!), I’ve just started my own on-line PLN. A colleague turned me on to Twitter and starting my own blog. What I have learned in the past couple of months has got me thinking “why didn’t I do this earlier???”.

BTW, I’ve added your blog to my blogroll. You’ll be playing a roll in my own professional development in the future! Thanks!

]]> By: 31 Days To Better Blogging Project - Day 1 | We can work IT out http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-14035 31 Days To Better Blogging Project - Day 1 | We can work IT out Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:36:14 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-14035 [...] today, catching up on some blog feeds via Feedly I read Graham Wegner’s post titled “The 37 And A 1/2 Hours Sham“. Graham talks about the SA Education Department’s policy that requires teachers to do [...] [...] today, catching up on some blog feeds via Feedly I read Graham Wegner’s post titled “The 37 And A 1/2 Hours Sham“. Graham talks about the SA Education Department’s policy that requires teachers to do [...]

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-14034 Graham Wegner Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:37:32 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-14034 Thanks for your perspective, Colin. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of compelling educators to keep improving their professional knowledge and skills but contend that the DECS scheme is so rubbery and entrenched towards rewarding seat time courses and workshops, as opposed to connective learning as can be found on the web. Thanks for your perspective, Colin. I’m certainly not opposed to the idea of compelling educators to keep improving their professional knowledge and skills but contend that the DECS scheme is so rubbery and entrenched towards rewarding seat time courses and workshops, as opposed to connective learning as can be found on the web.

]]> By: Colin Becker http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-14033 Colin Becker Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:43:51 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-14033 Hi Graham, Having a number of friends in the government system and hearing what some of them can do towards their 37.5 hours just acknowledges how it can not be properly monitored, especially in a large system. My school (non-governmen) encourages staff to do PD activities and has a set budget for these. Staff are encouraged to attend PD of their choice and many staff apply to go to local or interstate conferences. However, while we have to indicate on our form how we will share what we have discovered, there isn't really any accountability after you have attended the PD. In 2009 we hope to start an appraisal system that has as one of its functions to target areas of PD. This could be an individual having a goal to improve in a certain area or it may reflect the needs of the school, or both. I belive that we will also need to report/reflect back on the PD and discuss whether it helped to meet the goal. Those of us in IT are hoping that the school will have some goals for all staff relating to the use of ICT in learning. However, we all know that as soon as somehting is mandated, people can dig their heels in. I would also like to see staff encouraged to keep a reflective journal (hopefully in blog form) about their professional learning and their growth as teachers. While I wouldn't like to see the 37.5 rule applied, in some ways (for those who do reflect) it could be a good thing. Hi Graham,
Having a number of friends in the government system and hearing what some of them can do towards their 37.5 hours just acknowledges how it can not be properly monitored, especially in a large system.
My school (non-governmen) encourages staff to do PD activities and has a set budget for these. Staff are encouraged to attend PD of their choice and many staff apply to go to local or interstate conferences.
However, while we have to indicate on our form how we will share what we have discovered, there isn’t really any accountability after you have attended the PD.
In 2009 we hope to start an appraisal system that has as one of its functions to target areas of PD. This could be an individual having a goal to improve in a certain area or it may reflect the needs of the school, or both. I belive that we will also need to report/reflect back on the PD and discuss whether it helped to meet the goal.
Those of us in IT are hoping that the school will have some goals for all staff relating to the use of ICT in learning. However, we all know that as soon as somehting is mandated, people can dig their heels in.
I would also like to see staff encouraged to keep a reflective journal (hopefully in blog form) about their professional learning and their growth as teachers. While I wouldn’t like to see the 37.5 rule applied, in some ways (for those who do reflect) it could be a good thing.

]]> By: Tony Searl http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-13996 Tony Searl Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:24:47 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-13996 Graham I blogged about the high quality professional development my PLN has afforded me since May08.Best I've had in 22years because we control it, its empowering and authentic. We posted a blog response http://tinyurl.com/96d7ch during our (compulsory) second last day professional learning (to jump TPL hoops I think, but it was good), the audience thought how cute he's online and doing techno geek stuff, but lets get back to serious real research work now.Boilied blood resulted. Sue and Tomaz so far have responded. Next year when I offer web2.0 PD for the keen teachers I want them to see these comments and the connections are with real educators doing real learning using web2.0 tools. Many just do not "get it", yet, but my goal for 09 is to change that, slowly I guess. Your comment below is so true "Unless you have a principal who gets it (whatever “it” is) then all of this online interaction and networked learning is not real, not certifiable and does not qualify as proof of improvement as an educator". I still need to use (waste?) expensive teacher professional learning funds from our school budget to attend f2f events which often then fall way short of the free sharing of my PLN world. Go figure which one earns the DET NSW accreditation points? A great post on exactly what i was discussing with my supportive Principal the other day, but he self admits he just does not get it. Graham

I blogged about the high quality professional development my PLN has afforded me since May08.Best I’ve had in 22years because we control it, its empowering and authentic.

We posted a blog response http://tinyurl.com/96d7ch during our (compulsory) second last day professional learning (to jump TPL hoops I think, but it was good), the audience thought how cute he’s online and doing techno geek stuff, but lets get back to serious real research work now.Boilied blood resulted.

Sue and Tomaz so far have responded. Next year when I offer web2.0 PD for the keen teachers I want them to see these comments and the connections are with real educators doing real learning using web2.0 tools. Many just do not “get it”, yet, but my goal for 09 is to change that, slowly I guess.

Your comment below is so true

“Unless you have a principal who gets it (whatever “it” is) then all of this online interaction and networked learning is not real, not certifiable and does not qualify as proof of improvement as an educator”.

I still need to use (waste?) expensive teacher professional learning funds from our school budget to attend f2f events which often then fall way short of the free sharing of my PLN world.

Go figure which one earns the DET NSW accreditation points?

A great post on exactly what i was discussing with my supportive Principal the other day, but he self admits he just does not get it.

]]> By: Doug Noon http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-13993 Doug Noon Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:10:17 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-13993 I like the idea of time spent with the personsl network counting as professional development, but schooling is about earning credit(s), not learning. The institution can't deal with unauthorized learning. I like the idea of time spent with the personsl network counting as professional development, but schooling is about earning credit(s), not learning. The institution can’t deal with unauthorized learning.

]]> By: Charlie A. Roy http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/12/17/the-37-and-a-12-hours-sham/comment-page-1/#comment-13992 Charlie A. Roy Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:47:35 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/?p=653#comment-13992 Thanks for sharing. I'm the principal of a school in the states and it is interesting hearing about the concern that teachers have too many holidays. Our own state has some interesting rules regarding professional development. Most of them seem aimed at making a few companies who provide these services money. You're spot on with the power of a networked learning community. Thanks for sharing. I’m the principal of a school in the states and it is interesting hearing about the concern that teachers have too many holidays. Our own state has some interesting rules regarding professional development. Most of them seem aimed at making a few companies who provide these services money. You’re spot on with the power of a networked learning community.

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